Tales Of Arcadia Ficlet Collection

🌌 Precious Child Of Ours (Staja) 🌌

Quick Side Note: So a while back in the early drafts of Laura's story, she was going to have a friend who was a child of Steve. Originally the kid, who was named Steve Jr at the time, had no mother, and Steve was raising him by himself with the help of Eli, who had adopted a baby girl he named Phillipa (Flip for short). But once Dreakworks introduced Aja and she and Steve became love interests for each other, I decided that Steven was officially gonna be a half alien half human child being raised on earth by his dad while his mother and uncle lived light years away, visiting whenever she could to spend as much time as possible with her husband and their precious son.

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Just earlier Steve had been looking forward to seeing his wife and brother-in-law again after nine months of being apart. Aja had mentioned in the message she sent him a few days before arriving that she had a wonderful surprise for him, but he wasn't expecting her to show up with...a human baby. It's not like he wasn't happy that his wife just showed up with a small child she claimed was his son, he was just a bit shocked.

And now at the moment both his wife, her brother and their funny space dog were sitting in his living room in their Earth forms, acting like everything was very normal.

"Aja...why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" Steve asked as his wife cradled a small bundle that kept crying loudly.

"I wasn't exactly...pregnant, but I had managed to create our child using some DNA from your hair. I can't really explain exactly how we did it, but Krel helped a bit, and...well here he is now." Aja carefully unwrapped the bundle to reveal a small child with a head full of pale blonde hair that wailed loudly. "I got to choose the features, and I chose to give him your nose, the shape of your smile, the shape of your eyes. Isn't he beautiful?"

Steve studied his son as he wailed in his mothers arms. Indeed the child did have his nose, but his little blue eyes and his hair color were more similar to Aja's when she was human. He reached out nervously, and gave a small gasp when his son immediately grabbed his finger with his pudgy little hand. Steve felt his heart leap with joy as Aja carefully passed him the tiny human and cradled him as carefully as he could. The baby's cries ceased and he looked up at his father with those wide blue eyes.

"Hey little fella, I'm your daddy." Steve whispered, trying not to let his voice crack. "I...I'm gonna be here for you, to protect you, and show you how to be a good little boy. I'm even gonna introduce you to your uncle Eli, and all our friends. Your mommy's gonna teach you how to be a cool fighter just like her, and maybe you'll learn to be a tech wiz like your uncle Krel too."

Krel, who was sitting in the kitchen with Luug, gave a small chuckle. "Aye it's be nice to have another little tech in the family, but Aja said she wanted him to choose his own path and interests."

"Of course! He may be a prince, but he gets to choose his own path because I want him to live on earth with his father." Aja said as she pinched her son's cheek, earning a little coo from him. "So, we haven't named him yet, and we were waiting to see you to help us name him."

"She wanted to name him after his father, but I shut that one down quickly." Krel added and rolled his eyes. We've already got one Steve running around in Arcadia, don't need another. And imagine how confusing it's gonna be if we try calling you in the house." 

"Yeah I'm not copying Lake, maybe something different." Steve suggested. "Like..something space related?" 

"How about Vex?" Aja suggested. "Like our body guard?"

"NO!" Both Krel and Steve yelled, earning a loud bark from Luug.

"Then...what?"

"Steven!" Steve suddenly yelled. "It's perfect!"

"And...what's the meaning behind it?" Krel asked as Steve pulled out his phone.

"It means crown or garland, and he is a prince so it fits!" Steve chuckled as he showed his wife the information he found. "Cuz you know, I was voted king in high school, you're a queen of an alien planet, and he's a prince!"

"Steven Palchuk...I like it!" Aja laughed as she took their son back into her arms. "It's very fitting, and lively!"

"Okay he named the baby, but can he care for him?" Krel asked as he walked back to the living room. "Like feed him that weird human food humans give their young, change him if he makes a mess, make sure he gets plenty of sleep?"

"Of course I can! I've got my mom and stepdad to help me out too!" Steve exclaimed. "Oh wait till coach and mom hear this! Oh! And I gotta tell Eli and the others too! We gotta celebrate Steven's arrival!"

"I told you he'd be happy." Aja whispered to her brother as Steve leapt off the couch to go make some calls. "I just hope little Steven doesn't get lonely being here on earth with his father."

"Aja, you know he can't breathe in space properly. Bringing him here to earth to live was a good decision." Krel said softly as he sat down next to her. "Steven needs to learn to be a dad, and he's willing to be a good one for your son."

"You're not going to be trouble for your papa now, are you?" Aja asked looking back down at Steven, who was sucking on his little fingers. The infant looked up at his mother and pulled his hands out of his mouth to respond with a cute little gurgle, earning a laugh from his uncle.

"He's part Tarron, if anything he's going to be a well behaved kid." Krel chuckled as he took his nephew from his sister. "Ah but if you are anything like your mother, you will bring trouble or aid in causing trouble without meaning to."

"Hey! I'm right here!" Aja retorted, smacking her brother's arm. "Don't bad mouth me in front of my son!"

"It's true!"

"Alright everyone is coming over today!" Steve called as he entered the living room. "They'll be here at around five or six so we have plenty of time to clean up the house so it's presentable!"

"Should I cook?" Aja asked. "Or make something like refreshments?"

"Oh don't worry, my mom said she'll bring refreshments. You and Krel can help me clear out one of the bedrooms of some empty boxes that could serve as Steven's room." Steve assured her and looked to Luug. "I trust you to keep an eye on your owner's child."

The space dog barked happily before leaping onto the couch to snuggle up next to Steven, who Aja had laid on top of some pillows. Luug gave a small bark before gently nuzzling the baby's head and curled himself around him.

"Awww!" All three adults sighed and smiled at the cute sight.

"Well, let's get this place cleaned up." Steve said leading the two royals towards the rooms. "This house isn't gonna clean itself up in a couple of hours."